Environment Groups 'Relieved' by President's Re-election

Many California environmental groups are calling the re-election of President Obama a win for the environment. While environmentalists haven't agreed with all his decisions, they say another four years is a chance to continue key projects.

PHILLIPS: "One of the things Obama did was to adopt California's
clean car standards, essentially, which is one reason we're going
to be seeing 54 mile-per-gallon cars in the future, on
average."

The California League of Conservation Voters also endorsed
President Obama.

ALLGOOD: "It was interesting to me that it was an election that
the words 'climate change' or 'global warming' were barely spoken,"
says David Allgood. "But I did note the president in his
victory speech clearly knows it's a problem and mentioned it and
that's very hopeful."

Jay Ziegler with the Nature Conservancy agrees. And he
says an Obama presidency also bodes well for the continuation of
many California land and water management projects. He points
to a desert habitat plan California and federal agencies are
working on:

ZIEGLER: "Is a way to balance development of renewable energy in
the desert, with protection for what is really one of our most
fragile ecosystems in the Mojave."

Ziegler says even though environmental issues were never front
burner in the campaign, another four years will provide important
continuity for environmental initiatives just getting started.